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The Russell Library

Open Wednesdays between 9am-6pm and Thursdays 9am-6pm

Library information

• The Russell Library is now downstairs in the bpf building and doubles as a study/breakout. You can access the library on Wednesdays between 9-5 and Thursdays 9am-6pm. It’s a big space, completely disabled friendly, and opened in 2024.  

Who is the library for? 

It’s there for staff, trainees and members and all are welcome to borrow books and work in the space. It is open when there is no class in there, and when the building is open. So at the moment the dedicated ‘library days’ are Wednesday (9-6) and Thursday (9-8).  

Who are we? 

The two library staff are Polly Mortimer, Library Manager, and Eleanor O’Donovan, Assistant Librarian. The library is staffed on Wednesday and Thursday 10-6 pm. 

The two librarians are reachable by email: [email protected] and [email protected] and the phone has voicemail 0203 833 8965. 

What do we offer? 

The library is staffed on Wednesday and Thursday 10-6 pm. We hold a wide selection of psychotherapy texts and useful e resources (members and trainees can access these here). We have a subscription to PEPWEB, and offer 8 journals including JAP and BJP. We are in the process of investigating an e book package. 

We belong to some useful groups, one of which is PLUG, a pan-psychotherapy library group (IOPA, Metanoia and others are members) which allows for reference access to these other libraries. Another is CHILL, a wider group of independent health libraries in London, which meets regularly and offers very good networking opportunities. Recently we joined the M25 consortium of Academic libraries which gives us and our trainees, members and staff access to a lot of London academic libraries including Senate House. 

How does it work? 

The allowance for books is 6 for 8 weeks. Borrowers will get reminders, and we trust people to bring them back in good time. We can post books out if members and trainees are unable to get to the library. This is free to send out, and return post is covered by the trainee/member. 

What else is offered? 

Polly is learning support lead and offers one to one sessions for any library user who needs it, whether they identify with a learning difference or not. This can be structuring course work, making web searches successful, allaying anxiety around studies and anything else around studying. 

Mind’s Eye, an occasional news digest, reviews and events bulletin, comes out twice a year and is available on the bpf website, LinkedIn and BlueSky (and is emailed out to members and trainees). 

The library space is sympathetic and quiet and gives free WIFI, kitchen facilities and a nice place to work. Open Weds and Thursdays 9-6.